Anglican Council of Malawi has trained caregivers in Mchinji District to promote early childhood development (ECD).
Anglican Council of Malawi Mchinji field officer Ken Mboma said this on Saturday during the graduation of 30 caregivers the council trained in Traditional Authority Kapondo.
He said the training is meant to enhance provision of ECD education in three community-based childcare centres in Kalulu Extension Planning Area in Mchinji.
Mboma acknowledged that literacy levels are low in many rural areas and said ECD education is proving effective in promoting learning in such areas.
“ECD has proven that children who transition from community-based childcare centres to primary schools have an upper hand to excel in class work because they are able to read and write; hence, the need to invest in caregivers who are crucial in ECD,” he said.
Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare chief child development officer Pauline Simwaka urged the caregivers to take voluntary work as a calling since only a few of them will be on government payroll.
“Government has trained 60 000 caregivers, but as a way of motivating them on the voluntary work they do, 2 000 caregivers will be on the payroll. This is due to restrictions placed on the government wage bill,” she said.
Mchinji District Council director of planning and development Noel Dakamau commended the training of the caregivers.
The training was implemented by Anglican Council of Malawi with funding from World Vision International.
